What Are Growth Factors?

Growth factors are naturally occurring signalling proteins involved in cellular communication, tissue repair and regeneration. They help cells send and receive instructions that influence a wide range of biological processes, including wound healing, tissue renewal and the maintenance of healthy skin and hair follicles.

In the scalp, growth factors play an important role in supporting the environment surrounding the hair follicle. Hair follicles are highly active structures that rely on continuous communication between different cell types throughout the hair growth cycle. Growth factors are among the signalling molecules involved in regulating these processes.

As we age, the biological environment surrounding the hair follicle may change. Hormonal fluctuations, stress, inflammation and other factors can influence follicle function and overall hair quality. For this reason, growth factors have become an area of growing interest within regenerative medicine, aesthetic medicine and professional hair restoration.

Today, growth factors are increasingly incorporated into professional hair restoration protocols, post-procedure scalp treatments and advanced hair care formulations designed to support scalp health and healthier-looking hair growth.

Clinical Perspective

Dr Sharon Wong explains that maintaining a healthy follicular environment is an important part of supporting long-term hair health. Modern hair restoration approaches increasingly focus on creating favourable conditions around the follicle so it can continue functioning optimally throughout the hair growth cycle.

Dr Manav Bawa describes PTT-6® as a complex blend of signalling proteins designed to support scalp and follicle health. And is often combined with approaches such as microneedling and other scalp treatments that support the delivery of biologically active ingredients to the scalp.

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Your Questions Answered

General guidance to help you understand common hair-change experiences. It is not a substitute for medical advice.

Why Does Hair Shed After 40?

Hair shedding after 40 can be influenced by a number of factors including perimenopause, menopause, stress, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid conditions and female pattern hair loss.

Many women experience a combination of factors rather than a single cause.

As women enter their 40s and 50s, hormonal fluctuations associated with perimenopause and menopause can affect the normal hair growth cycle, increasing the proportion of hairs in the shedding phase. At the same time, follicles may become more susceptible to miniaturisation, resulting in finer, weaker hair growth over time.

However, hormones are only part of the story. Hair specialists frequently identify additional contributing factors including low iron stores, vitamin D deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, chronic stress, poor sleep, significant weight loss, illness, medication changes and genetic female pattern hair loss. These factors may occur independently or alongside menopause, making it difficult to identify a single cause.

For many women, hair shedding after 40 is therefore not the result of one event but the cumulative effect of several biological, hormonal and lifestyle changes occurring simultaneously.

What Is The Difference Between Hair Shedding And Hair Thinning?

Hair shedding refers to increased hair fall. Hair thinning refers to a gradual reduction in hair density and follicle size.

Many women experiencing menopause-related hair loss experience both.

Hair shedding occurs when a greater number of hairs than usual enter the resting and shedding phases of the hair growth cycle. Women may notice more hair on their pillow, in the shower drain, on their hairbrush or on their clothing. Shedding can occur suddenly and is often triggered by factors such as hormonal changes, illness, significant stress, nutritional deficiencies, rapid weight loss or certain medications.

Hair thinning is different. Rather than losing more hairs than normal, the hair follicles themselves gradually produce finer, weaker and shorter hairs. Over time, this process—known as follicle miniaturisation—can reduce overall hair density and make the scalp more visible, particularly around the centre parting, crown and temples.

Many women experiencing menopause-related hair loss notice both processes occurring simultaneously. Increased shedding may make the hair feel noticeably thinner in the short term, while ongoing miniaturization can gradually reduce density over months or years.

What Is Hair Miniaturization?

Hair miniaturization occurs when hair follicles progressively produce finer, shorter and weaker hairs over time. As the follicle becomes smaller, each new hair growth cycle may produce a thinner strand than the one before it.

Over time, thick terminal hairs gradually become finer, reducing overall density, volume and scalp coverage.

Miniaturization is commonly associated with female pattern hair loss and is one of the primary reasons women notice a widening part, increased scalp visibility and a reduction in ponytail thickness.

Unlike temporary hair shedding, miniaturization is a gradual process that often develops over months or years. Because it occurs slowly, many women do not recognise it until they compare photographs or notice significant changes in density.

What Happens During Miniaturization?

A healthy follicle produces thick, pigmented terminal hairs that provide fullness and coverage.

As miniaturization progresses:

Hair strands become progressively finer.
Hair growth cycles may become shorter.
Hair may not grow as long as it once did.
Individual hairs provide less scalp coverage.
More scalp becomes visible through the hair.
Overall volume and density gradually decline.

Eventually, some follicles may produce extremely fine, almost invisible hairs that contribute little to overall hair density.

What Are The Early Signs Of Menopause Hair Loss?

Common signs include:

Increased shedding
Reduced volume
A widening centre part
Increased scalp visibility
Reduced ponytail thickness
Slower regrowth
Finer hair texture

Many women begin noticing these changes during perimenopause, before menopause itself.

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